Cane mill



March 21, 1950 c. F. cHNucK 2,501,585

CANE MILL Filed Dec. 21, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 21,- 1950 c. FSCHNUCK 2,501,585

cm: um.- I

Filed Dec. 21, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ig. 6. 37 4.9 mi 565768 8} .7. 36

March 21, 1950 c. F. SCHNUCK CANE MILL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed De;v 21, 1944 v glwuwntom March 21, 1950 c. F. sci-mucK 2,501,585

. CANE MILL Filed-Dec. 21, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 g 0120 g 013. 70 66 8 Z 6 74 Z '/7 3 /74, 20

ama

gii

Patented Mar. 21, 1950 CANE MILL Carl F. Schnuck, New Haven, Conn, assignor to Farrel-Birmingham Company, Incorporated, Ansonia, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application December 21, 1944, Serial No. 569,116

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to cane mills, and more particularly to three-roller mills such as commonly used in sugar cane grinding installations.

As is Well known, sugar cane, after cutting, is subject to rapid deterioration, and after grinding is started it is desirable to have operations go on uninterruptedly. It is most desirable that adjustments and repairs where necessary be made with the utmost rapidity,

The present invention .has to do primarily with the provisions whereby the rolls are held in the housings. Conditions arise where it is necessary to shift one or more rolls, or even to remove them from the housings, on short notice, as where a piece of tramp iron becomes lodged in the mill.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a structure in which, for the purpose of making repairs, a artial or complete removal of the rolls, follOWed by reassemblage, can be efiected with greater rapidity'than has been possible hitherto.

Another object is to provide improved means for holding the caps on the housings, the structure employed being simple and rugged and enabling the mill to be taken down very quickly.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. '1 is a side elevation of a cane mill embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the mill;

. Fig. 3 is a partial end view;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line 1-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. '4;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6--6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a iragmentaryview of one of the housings;

Figs. 8 and 9 are details showing one of the top caps in elevation;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section on line Ill-l0 of Fig. 2;

Fig.11 is a section on line ll-H of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a section on line |2 -l2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is an elevation of a portion of the housing; and I Figs. 14 and 15 are detail elevations of one-o the side caps.

The present improvements are shown in con nection with a three-roller sugar cane mill having a pair of housings in which are mounted in tally, usually through screwsoperating in the side caps secured on the housings. The 1701311011 is capable of moving vertically and has hydraulic devices acting upon its necks. These hydraulic devices have parts operating in so-called top caps secured to the upper ends of the housings. The present invention is concernedamong other things, with the provisions for securing the caps to the housings.

In the drawings, one of the housings is indicated at 2B. As the other housing is identical, or substantially so, it is unnecessary to illustrate it.- The cane or feed roll is shown at "2|, the top roll at 22, and the bagasse roll at 23. The rolls 2] and 23 are mounted in the housing by means of bearings 24 and 25, which are adjustable horizontally by adjusting screws 26 and 23 operating in the side caps 28 and 29. The side caps are placed at the ends of the guideways along which the bearings 24 and 25 are movable.

The top roll 22 is mounted to move up and down relatively to the housing as the cane mat moves through the mill. In a recessed portion or guideway of the housing is a liner 313 under-,

lying the neck 3! of the top roll. Engaging the upper part of the roll neck is a bearing member 32 movable up and down in the housing and subjected to the action of a pressureplate 33 acted upon by a hydraulic ram 34 projecting downwardly from a hydraulic cylinder 35 in communication with the usual accumulator or pressure source, not shown. The hydraulic cylinder 35 is mounted and carried within a chamber formed in an upright member 36 that is a part of a top cap 3'! secured to the upper end portion of the housing.

The upright member 36 forms a downward -ex-" tension or body on the top cap 31 which is generally rectangular in cross section, as shown in Fig. 5, and is adapted to be lowered into place between opposing upright walls 38 that are pro-' vided as a part of the housing, thesewalls being parallel to each other and providing between them a recess to receive the roll neck, the neck bearings, and the hydraulic device. The upper end portions of the walls 38 are covered by apron portions 39 forming a part of the top cap and resting at their lower edges upon the upper edge of the housing. There are two apron-likeportions or skirt-like portions 39 provided on the top can, one extending to the right (Fig.4)1and the other to the left, and each such portion has a down-turned lower edge with two side portions- 4t and an integral transverse connecting portion 4| that rest upon corresponding side walls and transverse walls of the housing. The transverse wall of the housing is indicated at 62 in Fig. 4. It will also be noted that the outer ends of the apron portions have interlocking engagement with the housing to prevent the cap from moving laterally with respect to the housing, and preferably this is provided by cutting away the housing at 53 to create a notch in which is engaged a lug or foot portion 54 on the apron portion of the cap,

The wall 38 is thickened, as indicated at 38', in that portion which receives the body or block 35, and the opposing portions of wall 38 and block 35 are cut away to receive a horizontal member or looking bar 45 of which one is used at each sideof the block for fastening the block removably in the housing. A recess is provided into which the locking bar can be driven into place from one side of the housing. This bar engages certain portions of the housing and certain portions of the block in a manner to hold these parts against relative vertical movement, so that while subjected to the hydraulic pressure the top cap is strongly held against upward movement. When the locking bar is driven into place it is held between opposite portions of the twomembers (housing and block) so as to resist their separation, the locking bar when under stress being subjected to transverse shear throughout its width at a number of points in its length. The preferred form of construction is shown in the drawings, and will now be described.

As will be seen in Fig. 7, the housing wall portion 38' has a groove 45 extending horizontally across the same from side to side to receive the bar 45, said groove being of a depth to receive the bar in such a manner that the outer face of the bar, when lying in the groove, is flush with the adjacent face of the housing. Above the groove 46 the housing has two end lugs 41, and in this particular case a middle lug G8 somewhat narrower than the end lugs. Below the groove the housing has end lugs G9 corresponding to the lugs 41, and a middle lug 50. Between lugs 41 and 49 and the middle lugs 48 and 50 is a vertical groove and at the other side of the housing center line this structure is duplicated so as to provide an additional vertical groove 52. To cooperate with this described housing structure, the top cap has the structure illustrated particularly in Figs. 8 and 9, from which it is seen that at each side the block 36 is provided on the lower portion thereof with laterally extending lug portions by means of which the cap is locked in place by the bar. These lug portions include relatively thin lugs 53 at the ends, and two lugs 54, the lugs 54 being so arranged as to fit within the vertical grooves 5| and 52. The end lugs 53 are adapted to lap over the side faces of the housings in the manner shown in Fig. 5. Above the lugs 53 and 54 the block 36 has a plain face 55 adapted to abut one side face of bar 45. The lugs 53 and 54 are of a lateral dimension or thickness equal to that of the bar.

When the top cap is placed on the housings it is lowered by a straight-line movement until the apron portions seat upon the receiving edge portions of the housings. When the cap has been placed in position in this manner, the lugs 5 will have been moved down in the grooves 5i and 52 until they reach the position shown in Fig. 6, and the end lugs 53 will have the position shown in Fig. 6. The co-acting lugs of the housing and cap will then provide together a groove or socket for the locking bar, and. the locking bar is driven in from one side face of the housing. Preferably the locking bar, when installed, has a position such as shown in Fig. 6, with its extremities projecting slightly beyond the cap block. The looking bar is then fastened in place, preferably by means such as a screw 56, engaging a transverse opening 51 in the end portion of the bar and having threads engaging a threaded socket 58 in the cap structure.

It will be seen that in this construction, shown by way of example, the housing member has a recess or socket for the bar, and lug portions engaging the upper and lower surfaces of the bar throughout its full width, whereas the cap member has lug surfaces engaging the lower surface of the bar throughout its full width. However, the prime holding function is performed by the housing lugs 41, 48 and 41 which engage the upper surface of the bar and the cap lugs 53, 54, 54, 53 which engage its under surface. In this particular case there are six shear planes extending transversely of the bar throughout its full width, but obviously variations may be made in this respect as conditions may dictate. The locking bar preferably has greater depth than thickness so as to take the pressure edgewise. In the example shown, the bar has a length of 23 inches, its thickness is 2 inches, and its depth 5 inches. These dimensions, of course, are given merely by way of example.

In the provisions for securing each of the side caps in place, the same general principles are used, and this structure is illustrated in Figs. 10 to 15, inclusive. This structure may be assumed to be that used in connection with side cap 28. Here the housing has a guideway 59 having an upper horizontal wall 60 and a lower horizontal wall 6i. The cap has solid lateral extensions 62, each provided with a foot 53 extending into a notch 64 in the housing when the cap is seated. The cap has as a part of its structure a block 65 corresponding to an extent to the block 36 previously described. Extending laterally from the cap block at each of the upper and lower parts are lugs 68 and 61 corresponding tothe lugs 53 and 54 previously described, while each cooperating part of the housing is equipped with two end lugs 58 and a middle lug 69. Between each lug 68 and the middle lug 69 is a groove 10 adapted to receive one of the lugs 61. Here the looking bar is shown at 10*, and the same is held in place by a screw H engaged in a threaded socket 12 in the cap.

The .upper and lower housing walls 60 and 6! are provided with cut-away portions I3 which provide recesses that receive the bar 10*, and these cut-away portions 13 also provide shoulders Hi against which rest the inner end faces of the lugs 51 carried by the cap.

The operation of this structure in looking the cap will be obvious from the preceding description. The cap, as before, is moved into position by bodily movement in a straight line, no turning being necessary, and when the cap comes into position against the housing the bar is intro-- duced and driven into place, and then fastened in position. In both cases the housing member has a transverse groove for the reception of the locking bar introduced from one side of the housing, and the groove has communication with grooves at right angles thereto through which lugs carried by the cap may move transversely to the first groove to a position in which they can be held by the bar when the latter is introduced into the groove. In the caseof the side cap the bar does not fillthe groove laterally and it-acts to hold the cap lugs against-a continuous-shoulder at one side :of the groove which is the far-side :of the groove with relation to the mouth'ofthe housing recess. In the case of the top cap herein illustrated, the bar fills the housing groove laterally, as has been described above. These, however, -are detail differences between the two cap structures illustrated. In the case of the top cap, the lug portions on the housing, which in -the-as-' sembled position engage the lugs on the cap "(Fig. 6) provide additional resistance to lateralstrains.

One of the most important advantages of the invention arises from the rapidity with which the caps may be removed. ln disassemblingpthe fastening member at one end :of the locking bar is removed, and the locking bar driven out of its socket; The cap can then be withdrawn by a rectilinear movement. In the case of the top "cap, the cap is lifted verticallyso as to clear the housing. There is little or no difliculty occasioned by sticking together of the parts owing to the manner in which the parts are interengaged. There is direct shear on the locking bar across its width or thickness, and it therefore has no tendency to rock into or jam in a position in I which disengagement is diflicult. The construction is very simple and rugged, and a bar or key of sufiicient dimensions to have the requisite strength can readily be provided. No dovetails are necessary for receiving the bar, nor in manufacturing the parts is it necessary to work to close tolerances. It is of distinct advantage to be able to move the caps into place by a straightline movement, after which it is only necessary to place the transverse locking bars in position in order to hold the caps firmly in place in opposition to pressures tending to unseat them. When grinding is going on and it becomes necessary to stop the mill and remove one or more of the caps, this can be done with special rapidity owing to the fact that it is only necessary to move the locking bar out of position in an endwise direction, after which the cap can readily be pulled off of the housing.

While in the drawings only one form of mill is disclosed, it is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in many different forms, and that various changes in the construction may be made without departing from the principles of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. A cane mill comprising a housing having a guideway extending into the same and open at the outer end, a roll bearing in the guideway, and a cap for the housing disposed over the open end of the guideway and having a portion extending into the guideway between opposite walls of the latter, said walls having transverse grooves extending across the same and having grooves communicating with said first grooves which create outer lugs carried by said guideway walls which permit the passage of lugs carried by the cap, lugs carried by the cap movable into inner position by way of said second grooves, and locking bars disposed in the first grooves and overlying said cap lugs and guideway lugs to hold the cap in place, the cap lugs and the guideway lugs at each side of the guideway lying in substantially the same plane and engaging the bar in a manner to prevent rocking of the bar on its axis.

2. A cane mill comprising a housing having a guideway extending into the same and open at the outer end, a roll bearing in the guideway, and a cap for the housing disposed over the open end of the guideway and having a portion extending into the guidewaybetween opposite walls of the latter; said walls having transverse grooves extending across the same and having grooves communicating with said first grooves which permit the passage of lugs carriedby thecap, lugs car'- ried by the cap movable into position by "way. of said second grooves, :and locking 'bars "disposed the first grooves and overlying said lugs to hold the cap in place, the lugs at each side :of the cap engaging the bar across :an edge thereof, ands-a portion of the housing engagingthe bar across the opposite edge thereof.

3. A cane mill having a housing with :a :re-. entrant g-uideway, and a cap for closing the open end of the guideway, the guideway having at each side a "planar wall opposing :a similar wall on the cap, said walls formed to present a groove flex-i: tending across each housing wall :and to provide the housing wall a'nd the capwall with lugs which in the assembled position :are at opposite sides respectively of said groove and :are substantially in alignment in a common plane, .and :a locking bar located in the groove, the cap 'lugsb'eing ilocated inwardly :of the bar in iorder hold :the cap in place, the cap lugs and the housing tings having close engagement with the bar across the bar so that the bar is prevented from rocking.

4. A cane mill .having a housing with a reentrant guidewavand a :cap ior closing the :open end of the guideway, the guideway. having at each side :a planar .wall opposing .a similar wan on the cap, said walls formed to present .a groove ex-. tending across each housing "wall and to provide the housing wall and the cap wall withlugs which in the assembled position are at opposite sides respectively of said groove, and a locking bar located in the groove, the cap lugs being located inwardly of the bar in order to hold the cap in place, the housing lugs and the cap lugs extending substantially across the bar and providing a plurality of shear planes transverse to the bar.

5. A cane mill having a housing with a reentrant guideway, and a cap for closing the open end of the guideway, the guideway having at each side a planar wall opposing a similar wall on the cap, said walls formed to present a groove extending across each housing wall and to provide the housing wall and the cap wall with lugs which in the assembled position are at opposite sides respectively of said groove, and a locking bar located in the groove, the cap lugs being located inwardly of the bar in order to hold the cap in place, the housing lugs and the cap lugs providing a plurality of shear planes transverse to the bar, said shear planes extending completely across the bar, the bar being of greater depth than thickness and taking edgewise the strain tending to part the cap and housing, certain of the cap lugs overlapping the housing at the sides.

6. A cane mill having a cap, a housing having a recess over which the cap extends, the cap having a block extending partially into the recess, and means of connection between the housing walls defining said recess and the inwardly extending part of the cap including a locking bar extending substantially from one side of the housing to the opposite side, the cap extension and the housing carrying square-ended lugs having their ends engaging said bar at opposite faces and located in the same plane, said lugs extending throughout the width of the bar.

7. A cane mill having a cap, a housing having a recess over which the cap extends, the cap having a block extending partially into the recess, and means of connection between the housing walls defining said recess and the inwardly extending part of the cap including a locking bar extending substantially from one side of the housing to the opposite side, the cap extension and the housing carrying lugs engaging said bar at opposite faces, said bar being of greater dimension lengthwise of the housing recess than transversely thereof, and said lugs extending completely across the edge portions of the bar.

8. A cane mill having a housing recessed at the margin, and a cap having a block entering the recess and an apron portion overlying the housing at the sides of the recess, the housing having a planar wall at each side of the recess opposing a surface of the cap body, the planar wall and the cap body provided with projections, and a transverse locking bar cooperating with said projectlons to hold the cap in place, said projections extending substantially across the bar and providing a number of shear planes across the bar, said bar being assembled by driving it into place from the side of the housing, and means for preventing movement of the bar out of the assembled position.

9. A cane mill having a housing with an upwardly opening recess, a top cap having an apron portion overlying the housing and having a block extending downwardly into said recess, and looking bars insertable horizontally into position between the block and the opposing walls of the recess, the last-named walls having a plurality of lugs spaced apart and overlying the bar at and across its upper surface and also having a plurality of lugs adjacent and across the under surface of the bar, said block having lugs underlying the bar and alternating with said lastmentioned lugs.

'10. A cane mill having a housing with a horizontal outwardly opening recess, a cap having an extension entered in the mouth of the recess and having an apron portion overlying the housing, and an endwise movable bar interposed between each side wall of the recess and the extension of the cap, each of said bars taking up only a part of the lateral space in a transverse groove with which the housing wall is provided, the cap having lugs between said bar and one margin of the groove at the far side of the groove with re-- lation to the mouth of the recess, and the housing having lugs engaging the bar and defining the groove at that side of the latter which is disposed at the near side of the groove relatively to the mouth of the recess.

CARL F. SCHNUCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Simon June 10., 1947 

